Kindness From Within (Part 2)

From time to time, he dropped by the park — not really for the food, but to see her. Everytime glimpse of her somehow makes his day brighter, fueling his drive to do better in anyway possible. He wanted to be someone worth noticing, especially by her.

“W-Wait, what am I even saying!? Like she’d ever look up to me!” he blurted out, burying his face in his hands.

Ayasaka, on her break, noticed Kazuto by the same bench, burying his face. With a playful grin painted on her face, he scurried towards him, seating by his side.

“What’s the matter, Imazaki-kun?” she whispered, teasing him softly. “You’ve been visiting me lately.”

“W-What!? Minami-san?” he jumped, distancing himself away from her slightly. “A-Aren’t you supposed to be at the stall r-right now?” he stammered, barely meeting her gaze yet again.

“Nope! I’m on break right now so I decided to talk to you for a bit.” she smiled, slowly closing the distance between them. “And you don’t answer a question, with another question…”

“A-Ahhhh, Well….”

“Hmm?”

“I j-just wanted to see the park that’s a-all!”

“You really are a weird boy, Imazaki-kun.” She giggled softly, resting her chin on her palm. “Anyway, whatever the reason maybe, just keep the same warm smile you showed me that day.”

“You’re the reason why I’m smiling in the first place…”

He thought, the words lingering on the edge of his lips. He wanted to say them — to let her know just how much she’d changed his world — but his voice refused to come out.

Just then, Ayasaka’s boss called out to her, asking for assistance. “Anyway, Imazaki-kun, it was nice talking with you,” she said, rising to her feet with that same gentle smile. “I hope you visit even more often.”

And with that, she gave a small wave before hurrying back, her figure bathed in the afternoon light.

“I did not expect that…”

After their small interaction, he walked back home in a daze, his heart still racing and his face flushed red from what had just happened. His thoughts looped back to every word she said, burning his cheeks even further. Even the afternoon breeze couldn’t cool his flustered face.

“Kazuto, are you running a fever right now?” his father asked, welcoming him. “You look quite red right now…” a concerned tone followed.

“N-No… it’s just hot outside.” he answered, immediately running upstairs.

As he opened the door to his room, he swiftly ran towards his bed, burying himself with a blanket and a few pillows. He let out muffled groans, kicking his legs out of pure embarrassment.

“Is it really weird to observe someone from afar…” he mumbled.

Yes. Yes, it is. Please don’t actually do that.

He sighed, burying his face deeper into the pillow. “Ugh… I can’t keep being like this,” he muttered.

The embarrassment soon faded, replaced by determination. He stood up from his bed, and turned towards his study desk. Stacks of notebooks, review sheets, and pens greeted him—a reminder that exams were coming up.

“Right, I have to focus…” he whispered to himself. With a deep breath, he flipped his notes and began to read, and took his time summarizing each topic. Afterall — tomorrow is their first semester finals.

Reading notes, and summarzing them was taxing, so from time to time he

The rooster once again let out a sharp cry, alongside his alarm clock, waking him up from his slumber. With a gentle groan, he stretched out from his bed, and continued his repetitive, but somewhat colorful life.

After washing up and eating breakfast, he packed his bag and headed out the door. The morning breeze brushed past his hair as he walked toward school, his mind already wandering to what the day might bring.

“Yo Imazaki, have you studied for the exam?” Tadano asked, his face noticeably tired due to him staying up late to study.

“Yikes man, did you even get an wink of sleep?” he looked at him bewildered. “And yes, I did study.”

“Nope. Not a single wink.” he gave Kazuto a thumbs up. “Who needs sleep anyway…?” he said, but it is noticeably slurred.

“Dude, you need to get some sleep after the tests…”

“I might even fall asleep while taking the exam man.” he laughed, “But anyway, good luck to both of us.”

“Yeah, good luck.”

In a moment’s notice, the bell rang, signalling the start of the test. Their proctor entered the classroom, holding test papers by her arm. She handed them out one by one, the faint rustle of paper filling the air as the room fell into uneasy silence.

The exam was tough, to say the least. But just thinking of her beside him made him even more determined to get through it. Questions passed him like a blur — yet unlike before, it wasn’t because he couldn’t understand them, but because his hands now moved with certainty.

After two exams, they were granted a break, which made Tadano, and some of his friends approach Kazuto.

“Imazaki, how the hell were you so fast…?” one of them asked, still flipping through his test paper.

“I couldn’t even understand half the questions in there…”

“Ah well…” he chuckled awkwardly, “I just answered it based on my understanding…”

“As expected of my friend!” Tadano exclaimed proudly. “Seriously, why’d you hide that you’re an actual genius? You could totally get into Tsukihiro High!”

Tsukihiro High…

The name alone carried weight. This is because Tsukihiro High School is a school known for housing elite students. Some of them excel in sports, academics, and some in theatrics — it truly was the school for the elite.

“There’s no way I’ll be able to enter that—”

“You should definitely try it, man,” Tadano interrupted, his grin unwavering. “I mean, you’ve already come this far. Why not aim even higher?”

Kazuto sighed, finally giving in to his friend’s request, “Fine, I’ll probably give it a shot.

“That’s more like it!”

That moment passed by like the wind during a storm, as it was time for their next test. And just like earlier, it wasn’t that tough for Kazuto, as he continued to answer each question with unparalleled.

The exams went on for another day, leaving most students mentally and physically drained. But for Kazuto, it was nothing out of the ordinary — almost routine at this point. It was due to him studying lessons that were advanced for their curriculum.

“I’m scared for my results, man…” one of his friends muttered, slumping over his desk.

“Why’s that?” Kazuto asked, taking a sip from his water bottle.

“I skipped the entire back page of the Mathematics test…”

Kazuto nearly spat out his drink. “You what!?”

“I might be fried here, man…” his friend sighed, looking utterly defeated.

“Well good luck with that man—”

And then, without a warning, their homeroom teacher entered the classroom. The once lively classroom, turned dead silent, making the atmosphere tense. Their teacher then called out each name alphabetically — each name sounding like a death sentence for each of the students called.

“Imazaki Kazuto.” he was finally called.

Respectfully, he took his papers — and to his surprise, he passed. But not just barely like before; this time, his scores were genuinely impressive. They even caught the attention of the principal. Among his entire batch, Kazuto ranked 20th in the examination.

“Imazaki! That was one hell of a comeback from before!” Tadano’s familiar voice called out from behind.

Kazuto nearly jumped out of his seat. “Woah, you scared me there… Thanks, by the way.”

“No problem, man. You deserved it,” Tadano grinned. “I almost made Top 50, but it’s alright!”

“That’s an accomplishment in itself, Tadano. Nice one, dude.”

“I guess this calls for a celebration—”

“Wait—sorry if I have to turn that down.” Kazuto interrupted, scratching the back of his head. “I have a meeting with the principal after school.”

“Oh… too bad.” Tadano sighed, visibly disappointed. “Maybe next week then?”

“Yeah, that’d work. Bring the whole group too!”

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!”

After their conversation, the day proceeded as usual, and the time finally arrived for Kazuto to talk to the principal, alongside his father. They entered the office once more, a sense of familiarity that he does not want to feel again. But unlike before, there wasn’t a hint of hostility between them — in fact, it felt welcoming.

“Good day, Kazuto-kun, and Imazaki-san. Please take a seat.” the principal gestured, wearing a gentle smile on his face.

Kazuto and his father sat down, exchanging a curious glance.

“So what’s the reason for me and my son to be in this office?” his father asked, weary about the situation.

“As what you’ve probably heard from your son, he placed 20th in his batch, which is an incredible achievement. He even scored perfect scores in some subjects.” the principal remarked.

Kazuto’s father blinked, stunned. “Perfect scores…?” he murmured in disbelief.

The principal nodded, “Indeed. Which is why I’m here to propose something to him…”

They listened in silence, waiting for what the principal has to say.

“I would like to recommend Kazuto-kun for Tsukihiro High School,” the principal continued. “Not only that — our institution is willing to endorse him as a full scholar.”

Kazuto couldn’t believe what he’s hearing. An endorsee to become a full scholar? That is something he could only dream of — but now, it has come into fruition.

“Y-You must be mistaken, sir…” he stammered. “It’s only been a single semester—”

The principal interrupted, “This isn’t a mistake, Kazuto-kun” he said firmly, “This is also our apology for our wrong doings as an institution.”

Then, to Kazuto and his father’s astonishment, the principal bowed from his seat. “So please — will you accept this offer or not?”

Kazuto, still dazed by what he had just heard, turned toward his father. For a moment, his father remained silent, taking everything in. Then, as the weight of the offer settled in, his lips trembled — and a single tear slid down his cheek.

All those sleepless nights, the suffering he had felt for half of his teenage life… It was finally something worth it. Maybe it was karma doing its job, but nonetheless, it’s a moment to be proud of.

“Sir,” Kazuto said firmly, rising from his seat, “I accept.” He reached out his hand, offering a respectful handshake. “This is an offer of a lifetime, and I’ll make sure not to waste it.”

“Very well, Kazuto-kun,” the principal replied with a satisfied nod. “Please continue to do well in your studies.”

“I’ll never betray your expectations, Mister Principal!”

As they exited the office, Kazuto and his father shared a glance — one that spoke volumes more than words ever could. Pride, relief, and hope for a brighter future.

The next day back at school, Tadano ran up to him, “Hey what’s up man, did something bad happen in the meeting?”

Kazuto smiled, scratching his cheek awkwardly. “Quite the opposite… I got a scholarship recommendation to Tsukihiro High…”

“Woah man! I knew that you’ll get that… You’re pretty smart after all.” He slapped Kazuto on the back, grinning ear to ear.

Kazuto chuckled softly, “Thanks for your compliment man…”

That small exchange lingered in his memory — a reminder of how far he’d come. What once felt like a distant dream was now within reach.

Time, as always, moved faster than he expected. What felt like days quickly turned into weeks, and before he knew it, their first semester had ended. Graduation came and went like a passing breeze, and soon, the entrance ceremony for Tsukihiro High was drawing near.

Wearing his new uniform — comprised of a green blazer adorned with a school emblem, a crisp white undershirt, and neatly placed checkered slacks, a style unique to the said school. Kazuto stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie for what seemed like an eternity.

He took a step back, gazing at his reflection. Gone was the timid, uncertain boy he once knew — in his place stood someone more composed, almost dignified. Though his hands still trembled, it wasn’t out of fear this time, but from a mix of nerves and excitement.

“Tsukiro High, huh…” he muttered under his breath, a small gentle smile tugging at his pursed lips.

After adjusting his uniform and adding the final touches to his hair, Kazuto finally felt ready for his first day of high school. Since Tsukihiro High was quite a distance from home, he would be taking the train — a new experience that made his heart race with both excitement and unease.

He took off, walking at a steady pace as he approached the train station by his house. It was only a ten minute walk from his house, so he wanted to take his time looking around an unfamiliar street. It was calming, and the rhythmic sound of his footsteps on the pavement helped ease his thoughts.

Luckily enough, he was early, so the trains weren’t as cramped. As he sat down and settled into his seat, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Maybe it was because everything felt so new — or maybe because he was so far from home. Either way, this moment marked the start of a new chapter in his life.

He gazed out the window, watching the scenery blur past — rows of houses, shops, and distant buildings flashing by one after another. Before he knew it, his stop had finally arrived.

As he stepped out of the train station and turned down a few streets, he finally arrived. In front of him are the steel gates of the campus, towering over him. Alongside him are students, and as expected — they are noticeably rich.

“What am I doing here!?” he muttered under his breath, still unsure about evedrything, but he stopped, and composed himself, “I’m a scholar, and I worked hard for this… I can do this!”

After motivating himself, he walked along the hallways of the campus, looking around each nook and cranny of the school in awe. It’s infrastructure was nothing like his old school. It had this grand feeling to it that matches its known prestige.

“New students, please proceed to the auditorium. A guide will assist you upon entry,” a mechanical voice echoed through the station. “Once again, welcome to Tsukihiro High School.”

Still confused as to where the auditorium is, he asked around some students with him.

“Uhm… hello. Are you a new student?” he asked, approaching a nearby student.

“Oh, hello! Yeah, I’m new too,” they replied cheerfully. “Are you heading to the auditorium?”

“Yup. But… I think I got a little lost.”

The student chuckled softly. “Alright, follow me! I just came from there.”

Kazuto then trailed behind them, not losing his gaze away from them. They followed some students who seemed to be going towards the auditorium with them, alongside some signs pointing to the direction of the auditorium, which made it easy.

After a few more turns, they finally arrived at the auditorium, where a lot of students gathered. Luckily, they found two unoccupied seats by the exit, so they sat there for an easy exit.

“Thank you… may I ask for your name?” Kazuto asked, looking at them with a curious look.

“Oh, me? I’m Kirisaki Ren. Nice to meet you!” he replied with a grin. “How about you?”

“Kazuto-kun… what a nice name, I hope we’re classmates.”

“I hope so too,” Kazuto gave a gentle smile.

Just as Ren was about to continue their conversation, the headmaster’s voice echoed throughout the auditorium.

“Welcome, new students of Tsukihiro High! As most of you know, this school is renowned for its excellence — in academics, athletics, and the arts. I hope each of you will find a track that best suits your talents,” the headmaster began, his voice carrying across the grand hall.

After a brief pause, he smiled. “I’m not a fan of long speeches, so without further ado… welcome once again, students of Tsukihiro High. Aim high, my dear students.”

A wave of applause and cheers filled the auditorium, quickly settling down as the staff began their introductions. For the next hour, the students listened as school policies, available tracks, and faculty members were formally presented.

“Hey, Kazuto, what track are did you take?” Ren asked once the ceremony ended.

“I picked the academic track, why did you ask?”

“Woah, same here!” Ren laughed, “Guess there’s a chance we’ll be classmates.”

“I really hope so,” Kazuto smiled.

Walking for a few minutes, they finally landed themselves in front of a bulletin board, where their respective classes are posted. Kazuto then quickly scanned the board, searching his name within a sea full of them.

“Akasawa, Akikawa, Ikeda, Inoue… Imazaki!” he exclaimed, finally spotting his name. Turning toward Ren, he grinned, “I’m in Class 1-C! How about you?”

“Hmm, Let’s see…” Ren scanned, quickly finding for his name within Class 1-C, “Kirisaki… Kirisaki… Ah! We’re in the same class!”

Kazuto’s eyes widened in delight, “Guess I can annoy you even more,” he chuckled, patting Ren on his back.

“Hah! Game on!”

As the two shared a laugh, the morning bustle around them grew livelier — students calling out to new friends, camera flashes from excited parents, and the hum of fresh beginnings filling the air.

“Our room’s in the first building, right?” Kazuto asked.

“Yeah, we’re already here anyway. We just need to head upstairs.”

“You really are a lifesaver, Ren-kun.”

“Hmph! Bow down to your master!” Ren declared proudly, striking a pose and flexing his arms.

Kazuto snorted. “You’re flexing your bones, man.”

“Man, you’re really harsh with your comments…” Ren pouted, crossing his arms.

They hurried up the flight of stairs and soon arrived at their classroom, where a handful of students had already settled in. Scanning the room, they spotted two empty seats once again — tucked neatly at the back.

“So, what school are you from, Kazuto-kun?” Ren asked, placing his bag neatly below his desk.

Kazuto turned toward him, “I’m from Tokiya Middle School. How about you?”

“Woah, that’s pretty far from here…” Ren replied. “As for me, I studied close by — Hiruma Middle School.”

“Hiruma!? You must be really smart, huh?”

“Smart!?” Ren laughed. “Pfft, I barely passed the entrance exam for this school.”

“But still, two prestigious schools in a row? That’s impressive!”

Ren rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. “Heh… more like a miracle I managed to pass both.”

They continued their conversation, talking about their past experiences, while more students poured into the classroom. The quiet hum of conversation soon swelled into a lively chatter, filling the classroom with energy.

But that liveliness diminished as their homeroom teacher approached their classroom. Students steadied themselves in their chairs, anticipation hanging in the air.

And then — she entered.

Hanami Kaoruko, their new homeroom teacher — young, confident, and composed at just twenty-seven. Her slim figure and defined features, paired with long, silky black hair and striking dark-brown eyes, gave her a presence that could easily be mistaken for a high-class model rather than a teacher.

“Good morning class, I’m Hanami Kaoruko, your class adviser for this school year…”

She continued discussing school and class policies, her tone calm yet firm. With every stride across the room, her long hair swayed gently, following her movements like a dark silk ribbon.

“She looks phenomenal, man…” Ren whispered, his gaze flicking between Kazuto and Hanami-sensei.

“Yeah, she really could’ve been a model…” Kazuto agreed softly. But as he said that, his mind wandered back to Ayasaka — the girl whose smile and kindness already captivated him. His cheeks warmed into a faint blush.

“Heh… do you have a crush on your teacher? You’re blushing,” Ren teased, nudging him with his elbow.

“No… but I do have someone else in mind.”

“Sounds one-sided, huh? Want to tell me?”

“You don’t even know her!”

“Well, that’s a fact… Good luck with that, I guess.”

“It’s pretty much hopeless at this point… At the very least, she’s my beacon of inspiration.”

“She must be really beautiful, then.”

“And kind, too.”

They both chuckled quietly, their laughter blending with the classroom’s hum.

The rest of the day passed like a fleeting breeze — light, swift, and over before he knew it. When the final bell rang, Kazuto waved Ren goodbye, leaving early to catch his train. He passed through the towering school gates, retracing the same corners he had taken that morning.

Just as he turned one, a familiar voice called out from behind him.

“Imazaki-kun?”